Albany Park report card

After several decades of economic decline, a new wave of immigration—spearheaded by Koreans, Mexicans and Guatemalans in the 1960s through 1990s—stabilized property values and bolstered small business activity in Albany Park. The surge gave rise to one of the nation’s most diverse neighborhoods; some 40 languages are spoken in the schools. But rising housing prices have taken a toll, forcing working-class families into Chicago’s less expensive South Side and western suburbs. The exodus has once-overcrowded schools now worrying about stable enrollment.

Neighborhood snapshot

Albany Park

Chicago

Students in private school

13%

18%

Population 25 and over w/ high school diploma

61%

72%

Median household income

$39,600

$38,600

Children below poverty level

25%

29%

Unemployment rate

7%

10%

Residents living in own homes

31%

48%

Median sale price (single family residence)

$243,000

$285,000

Median rent (per month)

$620

$616

Increase in condominiums (1989-04)

75 to 1,019 (1,360%)

71,819 to 174,227 (143%)

Source: Census 2000; Median sale price from Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois, June 2006 to June 2007; Condominium counts by Center for Urban Research and Learning, Loyola University Chicago.

Neighborhood schools look to raise the bar

Chicago Public Schools has made Albany Park a competitive place to run schools, adding ASPIRA-Haugan, a charter school, to the area’s mix of elementary schools in 2003. Roosevelt, a traditional neighborhood high school, competes with nearby Von Steuben, a magnet high school, for top students. Test scores are up across the board.

Student population

Enrollment

Poverty

Bilingual

Mobility

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Albany Park Multicultural Academy (7-8)

290

95%

19%

13%

Bateman (pre-k-8)

984

93%

31%

18%

Haugan (pre-k-5)

1,076

93%

49%

23%

Haugan-ASPIRA (6-8)*

505

92%

14%

18%

Henry (pre-k-6)

718

95%

40%

22%

Hibbard (pre-k-6)

1,159

95%

39%

17%

North River (pre-k-8)

296

92%

29%

31%

Volta (pre-k-8)

949

92%

47%

16%

HIGH SCHOOLS

Roosevelt

1,628

95%

21%

30%

Von Steuben

1,479

56%

1%

9%

Student ethnicity

White

Black

Hispanic

Other

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Albany Park Multicultural Academy

9%

8%

67%

17%

Bateman

8%

4%

75%

13%

Haugan

9%

6%

78%

8%

Haugan-ASPIRA*

3%

6%

83%

8%

Henry

5%

5%

85%

5%

Hibbard

6%

7%

73%

14%

North River

5%

10%

72%

13%

Volta

11%

6%

57%

27%

HIGH SCHOOLS

Roosevelt

8%

10%

71%

12%

Von Steuben

24%

31%

25%

20%

* ASPIRA demographic data includes all ASPIRA campus schools

Source: 2007 State Report Card

How schools are doing

Elementary Performance

ISAT math-3

ISAT math-8

ISAT read-3

ISAT read-8

Albany Park Multicultural Academy

–

90%

–

86%

Bateman

78%

88%

65%

92%

Haugan

67%

–

64%

–

Haugan-ASPIRA

–

71%

–

71%

Henry

89%

–

65%

–

Hibbard

87%

–

71%

–

North River

100%

84%

73%

84%

Volta

89%

68%

86%

80%

High school performance

Graduation

Dropout

ACT math

ACT reading

Roosevelt

57%

7%

15.8

14.6

Von Steuben

79%

1%

19.8

20.7

Source: 2007 State Report Card

New school construction

Facing severe overcrowding during the 1990s, Albany Park activists organized to demand relief. The district eventually built two new schools and several additions to the area’s elementary schools. With more classrooms available and gentrification eating into enrollment, schools are now accepting more students from outside Albany Park. Last year, 87% of the students enrolled in the area’s schools came from local homes; down from 95% just five years ago.

A report from a new Illinois education organization finds that low-income, black and Hispanic students are underrepresented in gifted programs in school districts.

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About Chicago Reporter

Founded on the heels of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, The Chicago Reporter confronts racial and economic inequality, using the power of investigative journalism. Our mission is national but grounded in Chicago, one of the most segregated cities in the nation and a bellwether for urban policies.